Los Angeles police deny reports they're investigating Brad Pitt for child abuse

(Image credit: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images for BFI)

last updated 23 September 2016

The Los Angeles Police Department on Thursday denied reports that it is investigating actor Brad Pitt for child abuse. "We have no criminal investigation that we are actively pursuing," LAPD Sgt. Barry Montgomery told The Hollywood Reporter. "We are not investigating any case, nor do we have any allegations against Mr. Pitt. We understand how rumors get spun up and hopefully we can put a few of them to rest. We have no investigation involving Mr. Pitt."

Reports surfaced early Thursday that Pitt, whose wife Angelina Jolie filed for divorce Tuesday, was anonymously reported as being verbally and physically abusive toward one of the couple's six children during a trip aboard the couple's private plane last week. The allegations were cited as a potential reason Jolie filed for divorce, alongside rumors that Pitt was unfaithful or has a substance abuse problem; Jolie only listed "irreconcilable differences" in the legal filing, and no such rumors have been confirmed.